Barcelona move 14 points clear at the top

Ten-man Barcelona put in a performance worthy of champions to beat Deportivo Coruna 1-0 and move 14 points clear at the top of the Primera Liga on Saturday.

French midfielder Ludovic Giuly struck nine minutes into a pulsating game that looked to have swung towards Deportivo when Rafael Marquez was sent off in the 51st minute.

But Barca fought a desperate rearguard battle to hang on and claim all three points, piling the pressure on second-placed Real Madrid, who play Malaga at the Bernabeu on Sunday.

Real Betis moved up two places to third with a 2-1 win at home to relegation-threatened Albacete, while Espanyol missed a chance to join them in the Champions League qualifying places as they were held to a 2-2 draw by visiting Real Sociedad.

Betis moved onto 48 points but Espanyol stay fifth with 46 just a point behind Villarreal, who are not playing this weekend because of their UEFA Cup second knockout round, second leg tie with Steaua Bucharest scheduled for Sunday.

The game in the Riazor was played at a blistering pace from the outset with Barca midfielder Deco firing a free kick into the side-netting with barely five minutes gone.

Another free kick soon after led to Barcelona's goal as Depor goalkeeper Gustavo Munua could only parry Rafael Marquez's driven shot to the on-rushing Silvinho.

Guily arrives

The Brazilian's follow-up from the edge of area was going wide but Giuly arrived at the far post to stab the ball high into the net.

Depor winger Albert Luque pushed into a more central role at every opportunity and he and striker Diego Tristan had chances to equalise before the break, firing wide when well placed.

Luque stung Victor Valdes' hands with a free kick from the edge of the are as the half drew to a close but Barca responded almost immediately when Deco's shot from range ballooned off Fabrizio Coloccini's leg and bounced onto the bar.

Samuel Etoo, La Liga's top scorer with 18 goals, collected Ronaldinho's clever chest down soon after the re-start but his shot fizzed just wide of the far post.

Marquez collected his second yellow card and was sent off in the 51st minute, and Barca found themselves pinned back as Javier Irureta's side piled forward looking for an equaliser.

Valdes denied Luque again in the 65th minute as the Deportivo winger sped into the area from wide on the left.

The Barca goalkeeper pulled off a match-winning one-handed save from Tristan minutes later, as the striker pounced on a poor Valdes clearance and tried to chip him in a one-on-one.

Barca coach Frank Rijkaard withdrew Ronaldinho in favour of Andres Iniesta, who almost created a second goal as he squirmed past two defenders to shoot but Munua pushed the ball over.

Depor threw everyone forward in a frantic final few minutes but Barca held firm to move another step towards the title.